Gaza Street looking south, near Beit Agion (Prime Minister's House) (photo: official website, Eitan J. Tal, Wikipedia)
Last Thursday (19.1.23), the residents of the neighborhoods of Rehavia, Talvia and Neyyah addressed a pointed letter to Mr. Gary Brant, the Jewish-American businessman who is behind the purchase of the land in the center of Jerusalem on which they live.
We will recall that less than a week ago, Walla Real Estate published the purchase of the land of the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate in the center of Jerusalem by the Jewish-American businessman, Gary Burnett, from the American real estate development company Extell, for NIS 750 million - where the land currently includes approx. 1,000 housing units, hotels, public buildings and institutions, open spaces and more than a dozen lots for development.
In the emotional appeal, the residents write: "Some of us are young families with children who paid the best of their money to purchase their home, some of us are elderly who have lived most of their lives in these homes, some of us are Holocaust survivors. You didn't buy real estate, you bought the lives of thousands of Jerusalem residents - and we are not a passing currency to a merchant... If we have to, we will know how to wage a determined struggle, until justice is done."
At the end of the article: the full and original letter sent to Gary Burnett
"We will treat residents in Jerusalem with respect and fairness"
Gary Burnett is an American-Jewish real estate man, president and founder of Extell Development Company, as well as the owner of Extell Ltd., which has issued bonds on the Israeli stock exchange over the past 8 years. When
signing the purchase agreement, Brent said the following:
"I Excited to announce a major deal in the center of one of the most important cities in the world.
This is a situation where everyone benefits: the State of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, the residents and Extel.
We have a great reputation with complicated projects in the US, including the Belnord project in Manhattan, which involved tenants in complex situations. We are going to treat tenants in Jerusalem with the same respect and fairness as we do in all our projects. The project will strengthen Extel's ties with the Israeli market and accelerate the development of Center of Jerusalem".
Now, it remains to be seen how Burnett will respond to the residents' letter.
The complete and original letter sent to Gary Burnett
Subject: An open letter from the residents of Rehavia Talvia and Neyam We
were informed by the press that you purchased the land on which our house is located.
We, the residents of Rehavia Talvia and Neyim, some of us young families with children who paid the best of their money to purchase their homes, some of us elderly who lived most of their lives in these homes, some of us Holocaust survivors, want to tell you in an unambiguous way that we will not move from our homes and we will stand by our right to continue living in them.
In Israel, a lease for generations means - for generations.
It never occurred to us that Man Dehu would purchase the land on which the houses we built and where we raised our children are located and he would be able to do as he pleased.
You didn't buy real estate, you bought the lives of thousands of Jerusalem residents - and we are not a currency that passes to a merchant.
We urge you to look into the issue seriously and reach an immediate agreement with the National Fund for Israel on extending the lease period of the land.
We believe that once you understand the essence of the matter, you will also understand our position, and that we are fighting for our homes.
We appealed for peace and order and finding a solution, but we will never give up our rights.
If we have to, we will know how to start a determined struggle, until justice is done.
Regards,
the Headquarters for the Rescue of Tenants in Israel
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The original letter translated into Hebrew (photo: Headquarters for the Rescue of Tenants in Israel)
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